Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson says that a British newspaper story claiming Juan Sebastian Veron is on the verge of signing for Chelsea is news to him.

"I don't know anything about it," Ferguson told reporters as his players trained for Thursday's friendly against Juventus.

The Argentine international midfielder rejected a move to Stamford Bridge last week but Wednesday's Guardian newspaper quoted his agent as saying an improved offer could mean a deal with Chelsea being done by Thursday.

But after watching Veron train at Rutgers University Ferguson said: "Seba is a mature man, he knows what he wants. I do not know if (his agent) has acted without our knowledge.

"Seba said last week he wanted to stay and I was fine with that, I thought it had settled down".

Asked if a deal could be done by Thursday, Ferguson said" Ferguson said that Veron, who cost 28.1 million pounds ($45.42 million) when he joined United from Lazio in 2001, will play against Juventus at Giants Stadium on Thursday.

(Reporting by Steve Wood, editing by Mitch Phillips, Reuters Messaging: mitch.phillips.reuters.com@reuters.net; --44 20 7542 8843)) ($1;.6186 Pound)

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